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What is psychosis?

Psychosis can be a symptom of serious mental illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. It can also be related to stress, depression or drugs and alcohol.

In a psychotic episode, a person loses touch with reality as other people see it. They might hear voices, see or feel things that aren't there, feel paranoid or believe things that don't rationally make sense.

Although it can be scary, psychosis is treatable. Some people have one episode of psychosis and never have another one, while others might need ongoing treatment.

The symptoms of psychosis

Other people might notice symptoms before you do, because psychosis can make you feel like things are normal when they're not. Symptoms include:

hallucinations where you see, feel, smell or hear things that aren't there

delusions, where you 'just know' things that seem unreal to other people

feeling that you're being followed or your life is in danger

muddled thinking and difficulty concentrating

a feeling that you're being controlled by something outside yourself

feeling like time speeds up or slows down

Just because you experience one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you’re definitely affected by psychosis. It’s important to talk to your GP to get a full diagnosis.

What to do about psychosis

Take the first step - talk to someone straight away and ask for help. Choose someone you like and trust, like a teacher, relative, counsellor or friend.

You should also see your GP. They may offer to refer you to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), an expert or a psychiatrist who can help.

If you're under 25 you can talk to The Mix for free on the phone, by email or on their webchat. You can also use their phone counselling service, or get more information on support services you might need.